Abstract
Background
A gross anatomy is an important course for medical students; however, seeing a cadaver often makes them feel uncomfortable. According to the broaden-and-build theory, the present study tried to reduce students’ negative emotions by sequential activities, such as interviews and ceremony, which induced gratitude and other positive emotions.
Methods
One hundred and five medical students in their third year filled Emotional Reactions Towards Cadavers Scale for three times in one semester, and paired-sample t-tests and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the changes of emotional reaction.
Results
Three-wave data showed that participants’ high-level emotions increased, negative emotions decreased, and the former simultaneously predicted the latter.
Conclusions
Combining dissection course with medical humanities helped students to successfully handle negative emotions during gross anatomy course.
Fear of Death and Performance in a Dental Gross Anatomy Course with Cadaveric Dissection
